Reel rack



Dec. 15, 1931. w. STUEBiNG. JR

REEL RACK Filed July 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 15, 1931. w. STUEBING,JR

REEL RACK Filed July 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 15, 1931UNITED. STATES CONNECTICUT ATENTOF E Y WILLIAM STUEBING, '13., OFCINCINNATI, OHIO ASSIGNOB TO THE YALE AND TO'WNE MANUFACTURING OFSTAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, A COBLPORATION OF Application meam 16, mag;-Serial mfs'lae o.

The present invention relates to an 'improvement in racks or skids forsupporting reels of cable, wire, and the like. One ob ject thereof hasbeen to provide a skid upon which a reel may conveniently be loaded andtransported by means of a lift truck and which will effectively supportsuch a reel in operative position for winding or unwind- One embodimentof my invention is illustrated in the drawings accompanying the presentspecification and in which:

Figure l is an end view with a cable reel.

in position to be operatively engaged by the skid;

Figure 2, a transverse section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 3, a side view illustrating a skid with its parts adjusted tosupport a cable reel in position for winding or unwinding.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of my improved skid includesa substantially U-shaped frame having opposed spaced horizontal members1 and a transverse connecting member 2. An upright 3 is mounted on eachof said opposed horizontal members 1 and carries a rack 4. An adjustablebracket 5 is slidably mounted on each upright 3 and is adapted to beretained in any desired position thereon by means of a pawl 6 which isheld normally in operative engagement with the rack 4 by means of acounterweight in the form of an arm 7 In operation, the above describedframe and associated parts are positioned with the spaced members 1straddling a' reel or the like which is provided with an axle 8 havingits free ends extending across or above the path of movement of theslidable brackets 5. The latter are thenmoved upwardly into axleengaging position where they are held secure by means of the pawls 6enga in the racks 4. If now a suitably designe li ting truck bepositioned in lifting relation tothe frame, the frame together with thecable reel can be raised out of contact with the ground or floor.

The frame of my improved skid is preferably supported in such amanner-that the effective height thereof above the ground or floor"bevaried, the purpose'lbeinglto provide meanswhereby the reel mayreadily bemaintainedin elevated or windin and unwinding positionafter-thelifttruc has been removed from beneath the frames Ac-j.cordingly; I provide three legs 9,lone under.

an end ortion of each of the spaced members ly ian'dt e third locatedunder a middle portionof'transverse member2. Eachleg 9 is provided withsuitable means forincreasing or, reducing its effective length; such forex ampletas a spacer 10pivotally secured there to and in such itpositionthat it may readily beIdeflcted downwardly intoa positionunderlying said-i leg,:as shown inFigure 3,

when the frame is .in 1 elevated position or, if-desired, it may be.movedto inoperative position as indicated iniFigure 1'..1Byreleasthezelevating mechanism of the lift truck theframeis againlowered. and comes to rest on legs. 9,' but, with the spacers 10 inoperative position, thexreel .will stand clear of the ground or floorand can: therefore be freely, rotatedwfor-.the purpose of windingorunwindingcable or the like.

It will be apparent: from thefore oing description of my improved arskidan the statement of .its mode-ofaoperation that it presents featureswhich: are; materially ad vantageous over cable reel handling-devicesnow 'in. or'commomy known before my invention. For example, where acable reel is supported on an axle between wheels, the latter being ofgreater diameter than the reel, occupy an unnecessarily large amount ofspace when the reel is not-in use. Furthermore, the difliculties ofraising a heavy reel into position to be carried by a pair of wheelsmakes this method of support and transportation very burdensome andexpensive. According to another mode of handling cable till -reels,thereel is mounted on a support forming may therefore be deposited at anydesired lace either for storage or for use, thus reieving the truck forduty elsewhere if desired. Other and possibly equally impor- 5 tantadvantages in connection with the use of myimproved form of reel skidwill be apparent upon reading the foregoing speci cation in connectionwith the accompanying drawings. v I claim asmy inventionr; e g

' 1. A skid for cable reels and the like comprising a U-shaped frameincluding spaced horizontal members having inwardly extend ing flangesadapted tobe engagedby and 15 to rest upon the elevating frame of a lifttruck or the-like, a T-beanr upright supported on eachhorizontal-member, a rackoneach. upright, a reel axle supporting bracketslidably mounted on each upright, and a detent 2- positioned toreleasably retain the bracket in any desired position of adjustment inrelation tosmid rack. v z 1 v 2. A. skid for cable reels and the likecomprising a U-shaped frame having spaced horizontal members and atransverse connecting member, said horizontal members including opposedinwardly directed extensions haw ingv under surfaces adapted. to engageand be supported by the elevating framev ofa lift truck or the like;supporting means mounted on. each horizontal'member, a leg for eachhorizontal member and forv said transverse member, andv meansfor-varyinthe length of. a plurality of said. legs w ereby said 5 horizontalmembersmay be su ported at different heights from the groun or floor,comprisinga footpivotallyisecured to each of said. lurality of legs andadapted to be moved into and outof leg supporting posi- 40 tion when theU-shaped frame is held in raisedposition on-the elevatingframe of a lifttruck or thevlike, H

'In testimony whereof, I havesigned my name to this specification this12th day of July,'1929. a s i s WILLIAM STUEBING, JR.

